Wirelessly detectable objects for use in medical procedures and methods of making same

Abstract

Various embodiments of a wirelessly detectable object to be used in medical procedures are provided. One example wirelessly detectable object includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder that, when interrogated, wirelessly returns a first response signal that contains identification information associated with a surgical object. The wirelessly detectable object further includes a presence transponder that, when interrogated, wirelessly returns a second response signal that does not contain identification information. The presence transponder is received and freely movable within a pouch. The presence transponder is independently movable with respect to the RFID transponder. Another example wirelessly detectable object includes at least one active antenna element and at least one passive antenna element that together operate as a directional antenna.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present disclosure generally relates to detection of presence, or absence, and identification of objects tagged with wirelessly detectable objects, which may, for example, allow detection and identification of surgical objects (e.g., sponges, instruments, etc.) during or after surgery, or for inventorying of objects, for instance surgical objects.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]It is often useful or important to be able to determine the presence or absence of an object.[0005]For example, it is important to determine whether objects associated with surgery are present in a patient's body before completion of the surgery. Such objects may take a variety of forms. For example, the objects may take the form of instruments, for instance scalpels, scissors, forceps, hemostats, and / or clamps. Also for example, the objects may take the form of related accessories and / or disposable objects, for instance surgical sponges, gauzes, and / or...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]It may be useful for a medical provider to be able to detect a transponder at longer ranges while still being able to receive an identifier from the transponder to uniquely identify the object. For example, upon detecting that an object is present in a proximity of the surgical site, particularly inside the body of the patient, it may be useful to wirelessly determine an identity of the object. Further, upon completion of surgery, it may useful to scan the objects that were used during surgery and are currently present, to identify them and determine whether all of the objects that were present before surgery are present after surgery outside the patient's body without requiring a manual count of the objects by highly trained and highly compensated personnel.

Problems solved by technology

For example, in the medical or surgical context, tools such as those listed above, can have a limited shelf life after being disinfected and before being used or reused.

Furthermore, some tools have a total life cycle after which they need to be replaced or go through maintenance before being reused.

Conventional manual tracking of an object's life cycle, maintenance cycle, shelf life or any other parameter, even when assisted by computers, can be costly and time-consuming.

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